Medigadda (Lakshmi) barrage restoration, Kaleshwaram project

On trackStateNot yet verified · researched from public reports

Restoration of the Medigadda barrage on the Godavari, part of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, after a pier of Block 7 sank in October 2023.

Project details
Level	State
Where	Medigadda (Lakshmi) barrage on the Godavari, Telangana
Ministry / department	Irrigation and Command Area Development Department, Government of Telangana
Sector	Irrigation
Status	Announced

All key dates

Pier 20 of Block 7 sank21 Oct 2023
NDSA final report24 Apr 2025
Original target30 Jun 2027

Why it is delayed

Stuck at: Restoration designs to follow CWC and NDSA recommendations; over ₹800 crore of contractor bills pendingThe barrage cannot be used until Block 7 is rebuilt. Responsibility for the restoration cost is disputed between the State and the original contractor.

Quality of work

NDSA: poor planning, faulty design, storing water in barrages that were not designed as dams, and almost no maintenance because the barrages were never emptied.

About the project

Pier 20 of Block 7 sank on 21 October 2023. The National Dam Safety Authority's final report (April 2025) found that Block 7 cannot be repaired and must be rebuilt, and that the Annaram and Sundilla barrages upstream have similar flaws. The State estimates about ₹2,500 crore to restore the three barrages, over ₹700 crore of it for Medigadda. In 2026 the Irrigation Minister said designs would be finalised by September 2026, work would start in November–December 2026 and restoration would be completed by June 2027. Targets announced only as a month or a year are shown as the last day of that month or year.

Sources

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